Label printing machine



D. B. STERRETT, SR

LABEL PRINTING MACHINE Oct. 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 30, 1965 OC- 31,1967 D. B. STERRETT, SR 3,349,599

LABEL PRINTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1965 Oct. 31, 1967 D. B. STERRETT, 5R

LABEL PRINTING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 3o, 1965 OC- 31, 1957 D. B. STERRETT, SR 3,349,699

LABEL PRINT ING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet V4 United States Patent M 3,349,699 LABEL PRINTING MACHINE David B. Sterrett, Sr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to Louis Melind Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,519 Claims. (Cl. 10i-310) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE The inking pad and printing assembly and the means for intermittently advancing from a roll a st-rip carrying spaced labels to be printed upon are carried by a head hinged to a base structure and releasably held in a lowered operative position. When the head is released it may be turned to a substantially upright position giving ready access to the inking and operating assemblies and to the cooperating parts on the base structure for ready cleaning, repair and replacement of parts thereof, as may be required or desired.

The present invention relates to a machine for printing labels on a continuous roll of tape.

Preferably the labels are of the pressure-sensitive type having a pressure-sensitive backing which adhesively retains the labels on the strip of tape as the tape feeds the labels through the machine for having the printed impressions made thereon. Upon issuance from the machine, the printed labels are stripped off the backing tape and are pressed into adhesive engagement with the commodities intended to be marked by the labels; the most common usage being the adhesive fastening of price-tag labels on cans, bottles, and all classes of packaged merchandise.

Machines for printing these labels are generally small portable units comprising a base plate having a guide channel along its top surface through which the tape is guided, and having the printing mechanism, the tape advancing mechanism, and all of the other operating mechanism disposed above this guide channel, and arranged in a generally fixed or inseparable relation to the base plate. This has made it difficult to clean the guide channel, change the inking pad, clean adjacent ink besmirched areas, and otherwise obtain ready access to the underside of the operating mechanism for cleaning and inspection purposes.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction wherein all of the aforesaid operating mechanism is contained within an upward- 1y swinging top unit or head which can be swung upwardly and backwardly with respect to the base plate so as to expose the entire length of the guide channel for easy cleaning, and also to make the underside of the 0perating mechanism readily accessible for cleaning, inspection and repair.

Another object is to provide an improved construction in which the width of the tape guideway and the spacing between the roll supports can be readily adjusted for accommodating different widths of tape.

Another object is to provide a label printing machine having an improved construction of printing platen which always insures the proper leveling action between the type faces and the top surface of the label and serving by substantially right angle engagement of the type faces with the label to prevent movement of the type faces out of register.

Another object is to provide a label printing machine in which the printing characters are forced down against the label under an over-center crank action, which results in a greater pressure of printing engagement.

3,349,699 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiment:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the machine, showing the operating parts in normal position with the printing mechanism resting upon the inking pad;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view looking downwardly upon the machine with the hinged top cover plate broken away, showing the operating parts in normal position;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the underside of the machine shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the forward portion of the machine, showing the printing mechanism and its carrier in an intermediate position in the cycle of being advanced forwardly from the inking pad down into the printing position shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 5 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 4 showing the printing mechanism being pressed downwardly against a label on the tape, in the printing step of the cycle;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the tape roll and its mounting, taken approximately on the plane of the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan View of the supplementary top plate, showing the adjustable` mounting of the tape guides thereon;

FIGURE `8 is a fragmentary front elevational view looking toward the printing mechanism, with the latter raised into its inking position;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view through the cushioned printing platen, taken approximately on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a view looking downwardly upon the tape advancing mechanism, corresponding to a section taken approximately on the plane of the line 10-10 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view showing a portion of the paper backing tape with the pressure-sensitive labels secured thereto.

Referring first to FIGURE 11, the strip of tape is indicated at T, and the labels mounted thereon are indicated at L. The underside of each label has a pressuresensitized surface 13 adapted to adhere to the tape T, and the surface of the tape T preferably has a slightly glazed finish so that the labels L can be readily stripped therefrom after the printed indicia 14 has been imprinted on the labels L. The labels are positioned on the strip of tape in a slightly spaced relation to provide a space 15 between adjacent labels so that the linger of the tape feeding mechanism can engage the rear edge 16 of each label to advance the tape and labels from the supply roll R, shown in FIGURE 1. Each of these supply rolls R has a mounting hub with small projecting end r (FIG- URE 6) for the purpose of mounting the roll in the machine. The roll of tape T with the labels L adhesively secured thereto are of conventional construction and are commercially manufactured.

The printing machine comprises a rectangular flat bottom or base plate 2i) having a downwardly extending ange 21 around its perimeter, and provided at its four corners with rubber -suction cup pads 22 secured thereto.

wardly extending slots 32 therein which are adapted to receive the projecting ends of the roll hub r when the roll is lowered between the supports (FIG. 6). The base of each support 31 is provided at front and rear with inwardly bent mounting lugs 33, 33 through which pass clamping screws 34. The screws pass through transversely extending front and rear adjustment slots 36, 36 in the base plate 20 and thread into longitudinal extending clips or straps 37 on the underside of the base plate 20 (FIG. 3). By loosening the screws 34, the fork supports 31 can be adjusted toward or away from each other for accommodating different widths of rolls R.

From the roll R, the tape T passes forwardly over the supplemental top plate 28, secured by screws 26 to the .base plate 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the tape then passes between two parallel guide bars 42 which define a tape guideway 43 therebetween. The front and rear ends of these guide bars 42 are secured by screws 44 which pass down through slots 46 in the top plate 28 and in the base plate 20 and screw into longitudinally extending strap bars 47 on the underside of the base plate 20 (FIGURE 3). Loosening these screws 44, permits the guide bars 42 to be adjusted toward or away from each other for accommodating different widths of tape.

Extending upwardly from the base plate Z on the outer sides of the forked supporting brackets 31 are main mounting brackets 50, upon which the upwardly swinging top unit or assembly head is pivotally mounted, this top unit being designated TU in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 6, these mounting brackets 50 have inwardly bent base flanges 52 which are secured to the base plate by screws 53. Mounted in these brackets 50, preferably in alignment with the axis of the tape roll R, are rotatable bearings 54 upon which the rear end of said upwardly swinging top unit or assembly head TU is pivotally mounted. This assembly head comprises spaced right and left side plates 56, 56 having rearwardly extending pivot portions 58 which have staked fastening to the inner ends of the rotatable bearings 54 on the inner sides of the bearing standards 50. These side plates have widened forward portions 59 between which is fixedly mounted a U-shaped sub-frame 60 carrying part of the operating mechanism, shown more clearly in FIG- URES 4 and 5. Thus sub-frame 60 comprises vertical side walls 62 connected by a transverse bottom wall 63. The side walls 62 of the sub-frame are spaced inwardly from the outer side plates 56, 56 by screws 65 threaded into posts 67 secured to the side walls 62 by nuts turned onto inner threaded extensions of the posts.

Supported on this sub-frame 60 for to-and-fro swinging motion is an oscillatory carrier 68 which mounts the printing mechanism 69 at its front end. This oscillatory carrier is in the the form of an inverted U-shaped frame having downwardly extending side walls 71 joined together by a transversely extending top wall 72. These vertical side walls 71 of the swinging carrier embrace the outer sides of the side walls of the stationary subframe 60 and are formed with downwardly and rearwardly extending arms 73 which carry cam followers or rollers 74 which ride in curved cam slots 75 formed in the side walls 62 of the sub-frame 60. These cam follower rollers 74 are in the form of sleeves anged at their outer ends and are mounted on a transverse shaft 77 which passes through the curved cam slots 75. The cross shaft 77 is restrained against endwise movement by C snap rings engaging in grooves in shaft 77, at the outer ends of .,the cam followers 74, as is known, and the arms 73 are spaced from side walls 62 of frame 60 by fiber spacers disposed therebetween, on the cross shaft 77.

The carrier 68 has swinging link mounting on an upwardly extending link 78 which has its lower end pivoted on a cross shaft 79 extendng between the side walls of the sub-frame 60. The upper portion of this link extends upwardly between the side walls 71 of the oscillating carrier 68 and has pivotal mounting on a transverse pivot pin 81 extending through the side walls 71 of the carrier 68. The upper end of the swinging link 78 is bifurcated to receive the front end of a crank link 83 which enters the bifurcation for pivotal mounting on the pivot pin 81. The links 78 and 83 constitute a toggle having the pintle or pivot pin 81, the latter providing the oscillatory mounting for the carrier 68, previously mentioned, as will be understood. The rearward end of the crank link 83 is pivotally connected at 86 to a crank arm 87 secured on the inner end of a crank shaft 88. This crank shaft 88 extends outwardly through a bearing 89 extending through the right hand side plate 56 and has secured to its outer end a manually operated crank handle 91.

It will be seen from the foregoing that rotation of the outer crank handle 91 will operate through the crank arm 87 and crank link 83 to impart to-and-fro oscillatory motion to the swinging carrier 68. FIGURE 1 illustrates the carrier in its normal inking position in which the printing mechanism has its type faces resting on an inking pad 94 mounted between the front portions of the tilting head side plates 56. FIGURE 4 shows the oscillatory carrier in a forwardly progressing raised position, as it carries the printing mechanism 69 forwardly toward the printing position. FIGURE 5 shows it in the printing position, with the printing faces pressed downwardly against the label L which is then occupying the printing position. After the printing impression has been made on the label the continued rotation of the crank handle 91 in the same direction carries the oscillatory carrier or head 68 upwardly and back into the inking position shown in FIGURE 1.

The printing mechanism or assembly 69 is, in general, of conventional type. Referring to FIGURES 2, 4 and 8, the assembly 69 comprises a main frame having side arms 95 of outwardly opening channel cross section slidable over vertically disposed guide strips 96 of inwardly opening channel cross section secured to the inner faces of the side walls 71 of the oscillatory carrier or head 68. A U-shaped latch member 97 is pivotally mounted on shouldered screws 98 secured in the walls 71. The latch member 97 is provided at one side thereof with an upwardly extending finger 99 having at its upper end an outwardly directed tab 100 for convenience in turning latch member 97 in desired direction about its pivot axis. The arms of latch member 97 are provided with forwardly extending latch fingers 101 disposed to engage into corresponding notches in arms 95 and strips 96, when the latch member is in its operative or latching position. A torsion spring 102 is mounted on one of the screws 98, adjacent finger 99, with one end engaging the underface of top wall 72 and its other end engaged over the upper edge of the corresponding side arm of latch member 97. The spring 102 urges latch member 97 in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4, effective for holding the latch ngers in latching position and thereby locking the printing assembly 69 against vertical movement relative to the carrier or head 68. When it is desired to remove the printing assembly 69 the latch member 97 is turned in counterclockwise direction, by means of finger 99 and tab 100 thereby releasing the printing assembly which may be removed conveniently by means of tabs 103 extending outwardly from the upper ends of arms 95. 'The printing assembly may be as readily replaced by sliding it downwardly over the guide strips 96 until the latch fingers 101 resume latching position.

The inking pad unit 94 is, in general, of conventional type and comprises the inking pad proper mounted in a suitable holder provided with outwardly extending fingers 106 disposed to extend over forward extensions 107 of the side plates 56. The unit 94 ts snugly in a shallow open top tray 108 of rectangular box-like form the forward ends of the side walls of which are flared slightly outwardly for convenience in placing the unit 94.

The tray 108 is provided, at the mid-width of its forward edge, with an upwardly extending flange 109 effective for restraining the inking unit 94 against forward movement. The tray 108 is further provided at its forward edge with two downwardly extending flanges 110 at opposite sides of the flange 109. An elongated rectangular or oblong tape severing or cutter bar 111, serrated at its lower edge, is secured to the anges 110. The cutter bar 111 is for severing the label tape after it has been advanced to desired extent or after each printing operation, as desired. As will be understood, the tape is severed by pulling it upward against the serrated lower edge of the bar 111. It is, of course, desirable that during the severing operation the top TU be restrained against upward movement. To that end each of the extensions 107 of the side plates 56 is provided with a downwardly extending latch linger 112 provided in its forward edge with a notch 113. When the top unit TU is in its normal fully lowered position the fingers 112 extend downwardly through aligned slots in the base plate 20 and the supplementary plate 28. Referring to FIG- URES 1 and 3, the forward edges of the fingers 112 are beveled upwardly and forwardly to the notches 113 and a straight wire spring 114 is anchored to the underface of base plate 20 by upwardly bent tabs 115 struck therefrom. The end portions of spring 114 are bent :at an angle so as to guard against withdrawal thereof from the outer or side tabs 115. When the top unit TU is moved to its normal fully lowered position, the fingers 112 displace the portions of wire spring 114 between the tabs 115 and, as the unit TU reaches its fully lowered position the displaced portions of spring 114 snap into the notches 113 thereby effectively locking the unit against upward movement relative to the base plate 20.

As previously noted, during the printing operation appreciable pressure is exerted upon the label being printed. At that time the label rests upon the platen 118. Referring to FIGURES 3 and 9, the platen comprises an upper plate 119 of dished formation having downwardly extending front and rear flanges 120 and side flanges 121. Each of the side flanges 121 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 122 which engages beneath a downwardly extending flange 123 of the base plate 20. The plate 119 its snugly through aligned openings in the supplementary plate 28 and the base plate 20 and is restrained against upward movement by the flanges 122 engaging beneath the flanges 123, as shown in FIGURE 9. A strap or retaining member 124 of generally U-shape in transverse section is disposed in underlying relation to plate 119 and is secured to base plate 20 and supplemental plate 28 by screws 125 threaded into flanges 126 extending outward from the upper ends of the side arms of strap 124. A resilient pad, conveniently formed in two sections 127, 128 is contined under slight pressure between strap 124 and plate 119 in which the upper section 127 seats. The pad sections 127 and 128 may be formed of any suitable compressible material such as felt, rubber or other suitable material and preferably are adhesively secured together and to plate 118 and strap 124. During the printing operation the compressible pad permits slight yielding under pressure of the platen plate 119 thereby assuring a clear imprint on the label while avoiding subjecting any of the parts to objectionable stresses, which is desirable.

The tape or strip T of labels L passes from the roll R forwardly beneath a series of rollers 131 mounted on a cross rod 132 which is mounted in the rearward ends of the arms of a yoke 133 pivoted on a cross rod 134 mounted in the side walls 62 of the sub-frame 60 adjacent the rear and a short distance above the bottom Wall 63 thereof (FIGURES 1, 4 and 5). The rod 134 is restrained against endwise movement by C snap rings engaging in grooves in the ends of the rod, as is known. The rod 132 6 is likewise restrained against endwise movement by C snap rings 13S. The rollers 131 on rod 132 are arranged in pairs spaced apart by a central sleeve 136 of materially less diameter than rollers 131, mounted on the rod 134. A torsion spring 137 is mounted on rod 134 with one end portion engaging beneath the bight portion of yoke 133 and the other end portion bearing on the upper face of bottom wall 63 of the sub-frame 60, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The torsion spring urges yoke 133 in clockwise direction effective for holding the rollers 131 in pressure Contact with the upper face of the strip T and the labels L thereon.

A yoke of generally IH-shape 139 (FIGURES 4, 5 and 10) is pivoted at its lower end on a cross shaft 140 mounted in the side walls 62 of the sub-frame 60 and restrained against endwise movement by C snap rings engaging in grooves in the ends of shaft 140, as is known. The shaft 140 is disposed a short distance in advance of the cross rod or shaft 134 and a short distance above the bottom wall 63 of sub-frame 60. Each arm of yoke 139 is provided with a straight lengthwise slot 141 which receives the inner end portion of the adjacent cam follower sleeve 74 mounted on the cross shaft 77, the latter passing through slots 75 and 141, as will be understood. Each arm of the yoke 139 is provided, a short distance from the lower end of slot 141, with a forwardly extending ear 142. The ears 142 receive between them the upwardly extending ears 143 of a feed pawl carrier 144 pivotally mounted in yoke 139 by a cross rod 150 passing through the pairs of ears 142 and 143, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 10. The carrier 144 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 145 of inverted channel cross section which snugly receives the shank portion of a feed pawl 146, the shank portion 147 of which fits snugly in arm 145, as noted. The forward nose portion 148 of feed pawl 146 is tapered and bent downwardly, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5, and extends through a lengthwise slot 149 disposed centrally of bottom wall 63 of the sub-frame 60, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The tape strip T of labels L is fed from the roll R forwardly over the upper face of base plate 20 between the latter and the bottom wall 63 of sub-frame 60, and between the guide strips 42 defining the guideway 43. As previously explained, the labels L are disposed on the upper face of the strip T as it is fed forwardly to the printing position. A securing screw 152 passes through slot 153 and shank 147 of pawl 146 providing means whereby the effective length thereof may be adjusted to suit conditions. Movement of the pawl 146 into arm 145 is limited by ears 154 projecting from the sides of the forward portion thereof.

A torsion spring 157 is mounted on shaft 150 with one end portion engaging the forward edge of one arm of yoke 139 and the other end portion exerting downward pressure on the pawl carrier 144 in front of shaft 150. The torsion spring 157 holds the lower forward end of feed pawl 146 in pressure Contact with the upper surface of the strip T of labels L. During the forward movement of the printing assembly'to printing position the shaft 77 moves forwardly through the arcuate slots 75 in the side walls 62 of the sub-frame 60. During such forward movement the shaft 75 swings the yoke 139 downwardly and forwardly thereby causing the lower end of nose 148 of pawl 146 to engage the following edge of a label L on the strip T, thus advancing the strip a proper distance to position the preceding label properly upon the platen 18 for the printing operation. In the return movement of the oscillatory carrier 68 to its position shown in FIG- URE 2, the yoke 139 is swung in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5 to its normal position, thereby returning the feed pawl 146 to its normal position. In that connection it is to be noted that the end of the nose of feed pawl 146 which rests upon the label tape or strip T is beveled upwardly and rearwardly, as shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5 so that it will readily pass over a label upon the strip T without any objectionable tendency to cause reverse movement of the strip. As will be understood from what has been said, during rotation of the crank handle 91 the strip T is advanced the proper distance for positioning a label upon the platen 118, the desired printing operation upon the label is effected and the printing assembly and the feed pawl are then returned to their normal positions. The provision of the sleeve 136 between the pairs of pressure rollers 131 is desirable as avoiding pressure on the transverse central portions of the labels, which might tend to prevent proper engagement therewith of the pawl 146, the sleeve 136 being of materially less diameter than the pressure rollers 131, as previously noted.

Preferably a protective cover plate 160 is pivoted at its forward end on a cross rod 161 secured between the upper forward portions of side plates S6 by screws 162. The plate 160 is provided at its rearward end with a suitably disposed latch finger disposed to snap over a second cross rod 163 (FIGURE 2) secured between side plates 56 adjacent the upper edges thereof, by screws 164. The cover plate 160 overlies the parts between top wall 72 of the oscillatory carrier 68 and the roll R of the label strip or tape L and, in conjunction with top wall 72, protects the underlying parts from objectionable accumulation thereon of dust, or other particles of foreign materials.

It is to be noted that the sub-frame 60, which carries the printing assembly 69, the inking pad, the pressure rollers 131, the feed pawl carrier 144, and associated parts, is carried by the assembly head TU pivoted at 54 on brackets 50. The operating mechanism, including the crank handle 91 and shaft 88 and associated linkage system are carried by the top unit TU and sub-frame 60. The assembly head TU is normally latched in its lowered operative position, as previously explained. Referring further to FIGURE 3, a release lever 166 is pivoted at one end, at 167, to base plate adjacent one side and at the under face thereof. The other end portion of lever 166 is of increased width, providing a fiat head 168 which extends through a slot 169 in fiange 21 of base plate 20, at the left side thereof, as shown in FIGURE 2. The lever 166 is provided at about its midlength with a forwardly projecting arm 170 the forward portion of which is bent upwardly to provide a finger 171. The finger 171 extends through an opening 172 in base plate 20 with its upper end in close proximity to the under face of the supplementary top plate 28. Finger 171 is disposed in rear of wire spring 114, preferably in contact therewith, between the two inner tabs 115. The latter tabs extend substantially parallel with base plate 20, so as not to interfere with distortion of spring 114, and the outer tabs 115 are bent about the end portions of spring 114 so as effectively to anchor it to the base plate 20, as will be understood.

When the assembly head TU is in its normally latched down position, the release lever 166 is held, by spring 114, in its position shown in FIGURE 3, with head 168 contacting the rearward end of slot 169. By swinging the lever 166 forward the spring 144 is displaced from the notches 113 of the fingers 112. The assembly head TU is then unlatched from the base plate 20. It may then be swung upwardly and rearwardly about the axis of the bearings 54 through approximately ninety degrees, with the normally upper edges of side plates 56 resting upon bumpers 173 secured to the rearward end flange of top plate 20. The top plate 20 and the supplementary plate 28, with the tape guide strips 42 and platen 118 are then exposed, and the underneath of the sub-frame 60 and the yparts carried thereby are readily accessible. That is advantageous in facilitating cleaning, replacement or repair of parts, as may be necessary.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a machine for printing on labels of a strip of labels secured on a roll of tape, a base member, an assembly head pivotally mounted at one end on said base member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, means for releasably securing the other end of said head to said base member with said head in normal position overlying said base member substantially parallel therewith, said head being otherwise free of said base member, means for mounting a roll of labels on said base member for rotation about an axis substantially parallel with said pivot axis of said head, strip guide means on said base member, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, means carried by said head for exerting downward pressure upon said label strip between said roll mounting means and said guide means, a printing assembly carried by said head and comprising printing means and inking means therefor, and operating means carried by said head and effective for intermittently advancing the label strip to position with a label disposed on said platen means and for alternately moving said printing means to inking position in Contact with said inking means and to printing position in pressure contact with a label positioned on said platen means, said assembly head and the parts carried thereby being movable as a unit about said pivot axis to position exposing the upper face of said base member and rendering accessible the parts carried by said head, when the latter is released from said securing means.

2. In a machine for printing on labels of a strip of labels secured on a roll of tape, a base member, an assembly head pivotally mounted at one end on said base member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, means for releasably securing the other end of said head to said base member with said head in normal position overlying said base member substantially parallel therewith, said head being otherwise free of said base member, means for mounting a roll of labels on said base member for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said pivot axis of said head, strip guide means on said base member, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, means carried by said head for exerting downward pressure upon said label strip between said roll mounting means and said guide means, a printing assembly carried by said head and comprising printing means and inking means therefor, and operating means carried by said head and effective for intermittently advancing the label strip to position with a label disposed on said platen means and for alternately moving said printing means to inking position in contact with said inking means and to printing position in pressure contact with a label positioned on said platen means, said assembly head and the parts carried thereby being movable as a unit about said pivot axis to position exposing the upper face of said base member and rendering accessible the parts carried by said head, when the latter is released from said securing means.

3. In a machine for printing on labels of a strip of labels secured on a roll of tape, a base member, an assem-bly head pivotally mounted at one end on said base member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, means for releasably securing the other end of said head to said base member with said head in normal position overlying said base member substantially parallel therewith, said head being otherwise free of said base member, means for mounting a roll of labels on said base member for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said pivot axis of said head, strip guide means on said base member, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, means carried by said head for exerting downward pressure upon said label strip between said roll mounting means and said guide means, a printing assembly carried by said head and comprising printing means and an inking pad therefor adjacent said other end of said head, label strip severing means carried by said yhead adjacent and in advance of said pad, and operating means carried by said head and effective for intermittently advancing the label strip to position with a label disposed on said platen means and for alternately moving said printing means to inking position in contact with said pad and to printing position in pressure contact with a label positioned on said platen means, said assembly head and the parts carried thereby being movable as a unit about said pivot axis to position exposing the upper face of said base member and rendering accessible the parts carried by said head, when the latter is released from said securing means.

4. In a machine for printing on labels of a strip of labels secured on a roll of tape, a base member, an assembly head pivotally mounted at one end on said base member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, means for releasably securing the other end of said head to said base member with said head in normal position overlying said base member substantially parallel therewith, said head being otherwise free of said base member, means for mounting a roll of labels on said base member for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said pivot axis of said head, spaced guide members on the upper face of said base member, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, a sub-frame carried -by said head and having a bottom Wall overlying said guide members in proximity thereto when said head is in its said normal position, said bottom wall defining with said guide members a guide passageway for the label strip, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, means on said sub-frame for exerting downward pressure upon a label strip entering said guide passageway, a printing assembly carried by said sub-frame and comprising printing means and an inking pad therefor adjacent said other end of said head, and operating means carried by said sub-frame and head and effective Ifor intermittently advancing the label strip to position with a label disposed on said platen means and for alternatively moving said printing means to inking position in contact with said pad and to printing position in pressure contact with a label positioned on said platen means, said assembly head and the parts carried thereby being movable as a unit about said pivot axis to position exposing the upper face of said base member and rendering accessible the parts carried by said head, when the latter is released from said securing means.

5. In a machine for printing on labels of a strip of labels secured on a roll of tape, a base member, an assembly head pivotally mounted at one end on said base member for movement about an axis extending transversely thereof, means for releasably securing the other end of said head to said base member with said head in normal position overlying said 'base member substantially parallel therewith, said head being otherwise free of said base member, means for mounting a roll of labels on said base member for rotation about an axis substantially coincident with said pivot axis of said head, spaced guide members on the upper face of said -base member, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, a subframe carried by said head and having a bottom wall overlying said guide members in proximity thereto when said head is in its said normal position, said bottom wall defining with said guide members a guide passageway for the label strip and having a lengthwise slot therein midway between said guide members, platen means on said base member beyond and adjacent said other end of said head in the normal position thereof, means on said subframe for exerting downward pressure upon a label strip entering said guide passageway and at the side portions only thereof beyond said slot, an oscillatory carrier mounted in said sub-frame for movements inwardly and outwardly thereof, a feed pawl mounted in said carrier and having a nose portion extending through and guided by said slot and yieldingly held in contact with the upper face of the label tape, said pa'wl being adapted to engage the following edge of a label in the outstroke of said carrier etective for advancing the tape a distance for posi tioning a label on said platen and to ride over a succeeding label in the instroke of said carrier, .a printing assembly comprising printing means mounted in said carrier and an inking pad mounted in said sub-frame, and operating means carried by said head and sub-frame and connected to said carrier effective for alternately moving said carrier to an inner position with said printing means in contact with said pad and to an outer position with said printing means in pressure contact with a label disposed on said platen means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,087,315 7/1937 Bugg et al. lOl-297 3,062,136 11/1962 Lieberman et al lOl- 316 3,101,049 8/1963 Huppert lOl-292 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. F. A. WINANS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR PRINTING ON LABELS OF A STRIP OF LABELS SECURED ON A ROLL OF TAPE, A BASE MEMBER, AN ASSEMBLY HEAD PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID BASE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE OTHER END OF SAID HEAD TO SAID BASE MEMBER WITH SAID HEAD IN NORMAL POSITION OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THEREWITH, SAID HEAD BEING OTHERWISE FREE OF SAID BASE MEMBER, MEANS FOR MOUNTING A ROLL OF LABELS ON SAID BASE MEMBER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS SUBATANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID PIVOT AXIS OF SAID HEAD, STRIP GUIDE MEANS ON SAID BASE MEMBER, PLATEN MEANS ON SAID BASE MEMBER BEYOND AND ADJACENT SAID OTHER END OF SAID BASE IN THE NORMAL POSITION THEREOF, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HEAD FOR EXERTING DOWNWARD PRESSURE UPON SAID LABEL STRIP BETWEEN SAID ROLL MOUNTING MEANS AND SAID GUIDE MEANS, A PRINTING ASSEMBLY CARRIED BY SAID HEAD AND COMPRISING PRINTING MEANS AND INKING MEANS THEREOF, AND OPERATING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HEAD AND EFFECTIVE FOR INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCING THE LABEL STRIP TO POSITION WITH A LABEL DISPOSED ON SAID PLATEN MEANS AND FOR ALTERNATELY MOVING SAID PRINTING MEANS TO INKING POSITION IN CONTACT WITH SAID INKING MEANS AND TO PRINTING POSITION IN PRESSURE CONTACT WITH A LABEL POSITIONED ON SAID PLATEN MEANS, SAID ASSEMBLY HEAD AND THE PARTS CARRIED THEREBY BEING MOVABLE AS A UNIT ABOUT SAID PIVOT AXIS TO POSITION EXPOSING THE UPPER FACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER AND RENDERING ACCESSIBLE THE PART CARRIED BY SAID HEAD, WHEN THE LATTER IS RELEASED FROM SAID SECURING MEANS. 